MA pollen report
Boston Pollen Report
Boston sits where dense New England hardwood forest meets a coastal city full of street trees and parks — and its pollen seasons hit hard on both ends of the year. Oak and birch explode across the metro each spring, and by late summer ragweed takes over every vacant lot and highway shoulder from Dorchester to Somerville. The region's humidity and autumn leaf litter keep mold spores in the air well past the first cool nights.
Collection coming soon to Boston
PollyMap is actively recruiting a verified local partner in Boston. Be the first to know — or apply to be the partner.
While we find a local clinic
Test the air at your own home in Boston
No allergy clinic is reporting from Boston yet. Until one does, you can order your own PollyKit — a simple air sampler you hang outdoors or indoors. Send it back and the PollyKit Lab shows you exactly what's floating in your air.
- Pollen from local trees, grasses and weeds
- Airborne mold spores
- Dust mites and other indoor allergens
Hang it outdoors
See which pollen and mold are in your yard this season.
Or hang it indoors
Check bedrooms and living spaces for mold, dust mites and more.
What drives allergies in Boston
Trees: oak and birch (April – June)
Spring in Boston is dominated by oak (Quercus) and birch (Betula), with maple, beech, and ash contributing. Birch is among the most allergenic pollens in New England, and warm April winds can push counts from low to very high in a single day.
Grasses: Timothy and orchard grass (June – July)
Timothy grass (Phleum pratense) and orchard grass are the main summer triggers, peaking in June across lawns, meadows, and the Emerald Necklace parks. Grass season is short but intense.
Weeds: ragweed (August – first frost)
Common ragweed (Ambrosia) is Boston's biggest fall allergen. It thrives in disturbed urban soil, and counts typically stay elevated until a hard frost arrives — often not until late October near the coast.
Mold: humid summers, leafy falls
Outdoor molds (Alternaria, Cladosporium) build through Boston's humid summer and spike again as fallen leaves accumulate in October and November.
Pollen patterns in Boston
In Boston, tree pollen — including Birch, Oak, Maple — typically dominates from late winter through spring. Timothy grass is the most common warm-season pollinator, and Ragweed drives the largest fall pollen load.
Top trees
- Birch
- Oak
- Maple
- Beech
- Ash
Top grasses
- Timothy
- Bluegrass
- Orchard
- Rye
Top weeds
- Ragweed
- Plantain
- Pigweed
- Lamb's quarters
Top molds
- Alternaria
- Cladosporium
- Aspergillus
- Penicillium
Boston pollen calendar
Typical monthly intensity across the year.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| tree | ||||||||||||
| grass | ||||||||||||
| weed | ||||||||||||
| mold |
Historical reports
Cities near Boston
Explore pollen activity in nearby cities reported by the PollyMap network.
Frequently asked questions
What is the pollen count in Boston today?
PollyMap publishes real, microscope-verified pollen counts for Boston — measured from physical air samples, not modeled estimates. The latest Boston report on this page shows current tree, grass, weed, and mold levels.
Is the pollen count high in Boston right now?
Boston pollen typically peaks in May (oak, birch) and again from mid-August through September (ragweed). The measured reports on this page show exactly where levels stand today.
When is allergy season in Boston?
Roughly April through October: tree pollen in April–June, grasses in June–July, and ragweed from August until the first hard frost. Mold is worst in humid summer stretches and during fall leaf drop.
Why is birch pollen such a big deal in Boston?
Birch is one of the most potent allergenic pollens in New England, and the Boston area is full of it. Birch season overlaps with oak in late April and May, which is why those weeks are often the worst of the year for local allergy sufferers.
Are you an allergy clinic in Boston? Claim your territory on PollyMap.
PollyMap is a local authority-building tool for allergy clinics, ENT practices, and any clinic that offers allergy care. By becoming the Official PollyMap Partner for your part of Boston, your clinic gets credited on real pollen reports, receives ready-to-share weekly content, and becomes the go-to local expert patients trust.
We assign each partner a designated territory within the Boston metro — like a franchise territory. Boston has room for multiple partners, but once your area is assigned, it's locked to your clinic.
No clinic has claimed a territory in Boston yet. The best areas go to the first clinics that sign up — once one does, that part of town is off the table for everyone else.
Greater Boston is dense enough for several PollyMap territories — Cambridge, Somerville, Brookline, Quincy, the North Shore. The first allergy clinic in each area becomes its credited local pollen expert.
- Your clinic credited on every Boston pollen report
- Weekly real-sample reports and ready-to-share content under your brand
- Locked territory — competing clinics can't claim your area
- Become the go-to allergy expert in your part of Boston
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